Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center are hard at work uncovering the mysteries behind the autoimmunity responsible for type 1 diabetes and the pathways to restore functioning betacells. Dr. Gordon Weir (left) and Dr. Susan Bonner-Weir (right), both of who are working on how to bring betacells back to life. discovered betatrophin, a hormone that stimulates the production of betacells while in Dr. Doug Melton’s lab.

has joined the research staff of Joslin Diabetes Center, bringing with him an impressive background in research on the replication and regeneration of pancreatic betacells that applies to the treatment of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. He joins a talented team of researchers focused on treating and ultimately curing type 1 diabetes as an Assistant Investigator in the Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology Section.

Bonner-Weir is a Senior Investigator in the Section on Islet Transplantation and Cell Biology at Joslin and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. For a long time, doctors thought that the onset of type 1 destroyed all betacells.

A synthetic genetic program has been used to instruct stem cells taken from fatty tissue to become cells that are almost identical to natural betacells. This brings them a major step closer to a personal repair kit for diabetes sufferers

A skin cell by any other name would be as fleshy—or so you might think. But a new technique developed over the last decade can take skin cells, or any other cells of the body, and make them into something new. What are iPS cells? iPS cells. “We

Artificial betacells have been developed that automatically release insulin into the bloodstream when glucose levels rise. This work was done in lab experiments but could lead to a much more patient-friendly treatment than injections MORE >>

Scientists have shown that it''s usually a gradual process, in which the insulin-producing betacells eventually fade out. So wouldn''t it be marvelous if the function of those betacells could be preserved, allowing people newly diagnosed with diabetes to produce some of their own insulin for a longer time Type 1 diabetes doesn''t happen all at once. MORE >>

We’re making big strides towards a band-aid sized device implanted under the skin of people with diabetes that would release insulin as needed, potentially eliminating the need to check blood sugars, count carbs and dose for insulin through injections or… The post NewsFlash: Band-Aid Sized Encapsulation Device Goes to FDA! appeared first on DiabetesMine: the all things diabetes blog. MORE >>